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Such was his mode of life; readily to bear and to comply with all; with whomsoever he was in company, to them to resign himself; to devote himself to their pursuits; at variance with no one;
SIMO
never preferring himself to them. Thus most readily you may acquire praise without envy, and gain friends.
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SOSIA
He has wisely laid down his rule of life; for in these days obsequiousness begets friends; sincerity, dislike.
SIMO
Meanwhile, three years ago,Meanwhile, three years ago: The following remark of Donatus on this passage is quoted by Colman for its curiosity. The Author has artfully said three years, when he might have given a longer or a shorter period; since it is probable that the woman might have lived modestly one year; set up the trade the next; and died the third. In the first year, therefore, Pamphilus knew nothing of the family of Chrysis; in the second, he became acquainted with Glycerium; and in the third, Glycerium marries Pamphilus, and finds her parents. a certain woman
from Andros removed hither into this neighborhood, driven by poverty and the neglect of her relations, of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth.
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SOSIA
Ah! I’m afraid that this Andrian will bring some mischief.
SIMO
At first, in a modest way, she passed her life with thriftiness and in hardship,
seeking a livelihood with her wool and loom. But after an admirer made advances, promising her a recompense, first one and then another; as the disposition of all mankind has a downward tendency from industry toward pleasure, she accepted their proposals, and then began to trade upon her beauty.
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Those who then were her admirers, by chance, as it often happens, took my son thither that he might be in their company. Forthwith I said to myself, He is surely caught; he is smitten.He is smitten: Habet, literally He has it. This was the expression used by the spectators at the moment when a Gladiator was wounded by his antagonist. In the previous line, in the words captus est, a figurative allusion is made to the retiarius, a Gladiator who was provided with a net, with which he endeavored to entangle his opponent. In the morning I used to observe their servant-boys coming or going away; I used to make inquiry, Here, my lad,
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tell me, will you, who had Chrysis yesterday? for that was the name of the Andrian.
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SIMO
Phaedrus, or Clinias, or Niceratus, they used to say; for these three then loved her at the same time. Well now, what did Pamphilus do? What? He gave his contribution;Gave his contribution: Symbolam. The symbolae, shot at picnic or club entertainments, are more than once alluded to in the Notes to the Translation of Plautus. he took part in the dinner. Just so on another day
I made inquiry, but I discovered nothing whatever that affected Pamphilus. In fact, I thought him sufficiently proved, and a great pattern of continence; for he who is brought into contact with dispositions of that sort, and his feelings are not aroused even under such circumstances,
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you may be sure that he is already capable of undertaking the governance of his own life. This pleased me, and every body with one voice began to say all kinds of flattering things, and to extol my good fortune, in having a son endowed with such a disposition. What need is there of talking? Chremes, influenced by this report,
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came to me of his own accord, to offer his only daughter as a wife to my son, with a very large portion. It pleased me; I betrothed him; this was the day appointed for the nuptials.
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SOSIA
What then stands in the way? Why should they not take place?
SIMO
You shall hear. In about a few days after these things had been agreed on,
Chrysis, this neighbor, dies.
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SOSIA
Bravo! You’ve made me happy. I was afraid for him on account of Chrysis.
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SIMO
Then my son was often there, with those who had admired Chrysis; with them he took charge of the funeral; sorrowful, in the mean time, he sometimes wept with them in condolence. Then that pleased me.
